This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
On October 29, 2019, Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata introduced a proposal to amend the Children's Act, aiming to hold deadbeat fathers accountable for their financial obligations to their children.
The proposed law seeks to deny deadbeat fathers certificates of good conduct, loans, business permits, and even bar them from leaving the country if they defy court orders to support their children.
Under the new proposal, county governments would be empowered to suspend trading licenses of deadbeat fathers until they meet their financial obligations to their children.
Additionally, credit reference bureaus would be required to give adverse ratings to deadbeat fathers, with higher rankings for those who have defaulted on loans.
Deadbeat fathers would also be listed with the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) for failing to pay child support and receive a notice from institutions monitoring borrowers' behaviors.
The proposed law aims to make it difficult for deadbeat fathers to secure employment and obtain a certificate of good conduct from the Kenya Police Service.
Senator Kang'ata's proposals also aim to simplify and speed up the resolution of children's cases in courts, arguing that the current process is laborious and expensive.
Furthermore, the senator wants the DNA costs to be borne by the parent with means, and in cases where a poor parent has filed an affidavit, the children's officer to take care of the cost.
